Are rest areas ok to detect?

[critter0527]

I did a quick search of the forums here and found some finds from a rest area. Are they ok to detect? Are they worth the time?

 

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[crbub]

I have never detected one so I can't answer your question but I have often wondered the same thing.

 

[Ronzie]

Not sure but when you take a break and go do your business in the washroom, don't tap your feet.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I don't see why they wouldn't be ok?

However, I'm sure if you asked long enough, and hard enough, of enough officials, using the right combination of buzzwords ("treasure", "dig", "take" "holes", "indian bone", etc....) then sure, you can always find someone to tell you no.

But probably like most all areas: so long as you're not a nuisance and sticking out like a sore thumb........ And like all areas of turf: md'ing carries "connotations" (that you might be about to leave holes). So I'd go at low traffic times, not when they're mowing/maintenance days are going on, etc...

 

[G.A.P.metal]

Yes it ok so go for it ...if some jurk says any thing tell him your resting...at nite people probable go to the bathroom in them .....and they don`t ask permission to crap there !!
Gary

 

[Shiny_Jim]

This is one area that I have never thought of, I got a couple of them close to me might have to check it out.

 

[Fletch88]

I have an old rest area site I was thinking the same thing about. It's where an old one stood 20 years ago. May have to stealth hunt it at night. Don't worry I'm not calling the DOT to ask permission. WTH do you think a bureaucrat behind a desk will say?

 

[Old Dude]

That bureaucrat would say no, then call his buddy with a detector and say " Hey, I just thought of a good place to detect........"

 

[Normsel]

It may be possible to find some clad around the picnic areas closest to the restrooms. If it is an old time roadside rest stop you may find some silver but most of them in my area been closed for years with the exception of the rest areas on the interstate. As far as the laws go you may want to check your states websites for state parks etc.

 

[Cycluran]

Indian Bone?

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Indian Bone?

That's absolutely right. The md'r might dig up an incidental indian bone, while digging a metal item. Thus ... oh me oh my, no you can't detect then. For that matter, SO TOO might you "dig up an indian bone" if you detect in modern sandoxes or so much as sneeze. Thus it's a good thing you asked, and we would prefer if you never md'd, or sneezed, or picked your nose (that offends people too).

 

[JunkShopFiddler]

Get one of those cheap reflective yellow vests and you will look like a highway dept.worker. No one will disturb you because you will look like a Government employee who is actually doing something!

 

[izzaquack]

A government employee doing something?

 

[goldnugget]

I don't think you will need a detector, probably most coins will be on top of the grass. Can be rewarding on clad coins and maybe a piece of jewelry. Take along one of those doggy bags, if anyone approach you tell them that you are picking up the crap and hand them the bag . At the beach ,I see people walking their dog's and a litter bag, then pick the crap up and throw the bag over the dunes.

 

[Old Dude]

A government employee doing something?

If you do this, I can guarantee you will end up spread eagle on the ground with Homeland Security agents pointing guns at your head because there is no way a government employee would be doing something! That would stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[JunkShopFiddler]

If you do this, I can guarantee you will end up spread eagle on the ground with Homeland Security agents pointing guns at your head because there is no way a government employee would be doing something! That would stick out like a sore thumb.

LOL... Hey Mr. Old Dude, us old dudes must think alike!

 

[christo000]

I have never been told to stop detecting at rest areas been doin it for only a year but have hit quite,a few lots of people pass threw,I've seen state police pass me just don't be disrespectful & ull b fine

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I have never been told to stop detecting at rest areas been doin it for only a year but have hit quite,a few lots of people pass threw,I've seen state police pass me just don't be disrespectful & ull b fine

Hey Christo000, your type answer, to questions like this you say, something along the lines of: "yeah it's no problem. my friends & I detect there all the time". Such has been the answer people on forums get, when they inquire ahead before they travel to another area.

And at first glance, that would appear to answer the question, right? In other words, if someone's getting ready to go some place, and poses that question, and if all the people in that locale say "yeah, we hunt that beach (or park or whatever) all the time", then that would seem to indicate to a reasonable person, that ... it must be ok. Lest why else would everyone be able to hunt there with no problems?

But no, it only means you didn't ask enough people, at enough desks, "can I?". For example, those very same state police who pass you by and don't care, perhaps if you went and asked them, they might have to look hither and yonder through their rule books, and find some reason to tell you "no" (d/t you might "alter" something, or that you might bother earthworms, or run afoul of the "taking" verbage, etc...). And even if an individual state police said "go ahead", yet perhaps another one in a different cruiser might say something different. So keep asking different ones till you get the "right" answer. Or go above their heads, to their supervisors in state capitol. Eventually you will find yourself a "no", and then you'll be glad you asked, right? (afterall, you "can't be too safe", eh?)

 

[christo000]

All I'm saying is the rest areas in mass that I have been to no one has had an issue with detectors

 

[christo000]

& I don't see why I would go plane out of my way to ask 50 people if I can detect at a rest area if its not up on the sign as you drive in as a rule that's not permitted then ill assume its ok